Ian McKellen and Roger Allam in Franck & Percy at The Other Palace. Photo Credit Jack MerrimanFrank (Allam) lost his wife some four years ago and walks Toffee on the Heath to get himself out of the house. Ten years his senior, Percy (McKellen) a wry and savvy academic, takes rumbustious Bruno for strolls and the pair eventually strike up a conversation. Over a sequence of titled and numbered vignettes, they get to know one another, share canine anecdotes, umbrellas, beers and eventually an understanding that they are better together than apart. As age and general decrepitude inveigles its way into their daily lives, they continue to develop their companionship through the sharing of memories and a crusty combativeness, finding similarities and differences just as any couple.
Whilst there is little in the way of profundity or revelation in Ben Weatherill’s script, the observational interactions and measured sparring is neatly explored and delivered by a pair of renowned and gifted stage performers whose choice of naturalistic and unexpected phrasing and emphasis, puts more than mere meat on the bones. There are surprises, choice comedic nuggets and a few tender moments interspersed amongst the mundanities of ageing, and wise reflections on modern society’s seeming inability to allow for alternative opinions without the worst excesses of cancel culture kicking-in.
The play may not set the world on fire nor trigger explosive letters to The Times, but as entertainments go, Messrs McKellen and Allam make a rather sweet odd couple.
